Walgreens starts new loyalty plan, card

FROM MARLA PERRY: I'm very happy with my Dollar General trip this evening. I picked up two three-packs DG dry-erase markers, two Bic flame disks, four boxes Tampax Pearl, two bottles Softsoap body wash, a box of Clairol hair dye, a pack of clothes pins and a pack of hair bands. I spent $13.40 for everything. The cashier congratulated me! I used a $5 off $30 DG coupon, the free Bic disks coupons, two $2.50 off two coupons for Tampax, two 50 cents off Softsoap, and $2 off a box of Clairol -- it was on clearance for $2.25).

Just about every store has a store loyalty card giving special deals and other bonuses to loyal customers. Stores use these cards to manage rewards programs and to monitor what consumers purchase. Because I shop at many different stores, my coupon binder is full of loyalty cards. I’ll add an additional card next week as Walgreens introduces its new loyalty program, “Balance Rewards.”

Walgreens currently offers a coupon called a “Register Reward,” manufacturer coupons that print at the register and are good for future purchases on just about everything in the store. I have been assured by the corporate office that Register Rewards are not being replaced but you will need a Balance Rewards card to take advantage of any of the Register Reward offers, sales prices, instant value coupons and the coupons in the Walgreens ad.

Easy to join

How much does the Balance Rewards program cost to join? The Balance Rewards program is free to join.

Who can sign up? Any individual ages 13 years and older may have a card. Businesses and groups may not participate.

When can I sign up? You can sign up online or in stores starting Sept. 6. Walgreens will run a special promotion online Sept. 6-15 and give away a million points to 10 lucky winners. Everyone who registers online will be entered in the drawing, and the points will be loaded to your Balance Rewards card.

How do I sign up? You can sign up at any Walgreen store at the checkout or any photo kiosk. You can also sign up online at www.walgreens.com/balance.

What information do I need to provide when registering? You will need to provide your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

• Be sure to fill out all of the information. If you do not provide complete information or if you provide false information, your cards will be deactivated. (This is to prevent people from signing up for multiple cards.)

• By registering your phone number, you will be able to access your account at the register even if you forget your loyalty card.

• Providing your email address and mailing address provides Walgreens an opportunity to send you coupons and special offers.

Why do I need the loyalty card? In order to take advantage of the sales and promotional prices, you have to have the loyalty card. You may shop without the card, however you will not receive Register Rewards or points and will pay a higher price on most items than people who shop with the free loyalty card.

How do I know how many points I have available? Members can easily access point totals at checkout, online at www.walgreens.com/balance or through their mobile devices.

When can I begin earning points? The first date that you can begin adding points is Sept. 16.

Earning points

Scan your card first. The cashier must scan your card, your mobile device or enter your phone number for you to get credit. As long as they scan the card prior to the completion of the transaction you will get credit for the points. However, I would recommend always scan your card first to prevent any chance of you or the cashier forgetting to scan it.

Purchase designated items in the ad. Pay close attention to the store circular. Each week, it will list items that you will receive points for and the amount of points you will earn for each one. This will vary depending on the promotion. You must purchase these items during the advertised promotion period to earn points. You may purchase the items in the store or online and earn points on them. If the item is purchased online but you select in-store pick up, the points will not be credited to your account until the item is picked up.

Purchase specially marked items in the store. Pay close attention to the signs in the store. All of the available items may not be in the stores ad. The representative that I spoke to said there would be many opportunities to earn points throughout the store.

What about rain checks? You may receive a rain check on a sale item in the ad, however you will not receive points for that item if it is purchased after the promotion has ended. For example if you would have earned points for purchasing ABC garbage bags for $4.99 during the week of Sept. 16-22, but they were out of the item, you could get a rain check that would allow you to purchase them later for $4.99. If you purchase the ABC garbage bags on Sept. 23 with the rain check you will still get them for $4.99, but you will not be able to collect the points for them.

When will points be awarded? Points are awarded three to five days after purchase.

May I “roll” my points? The terms and conditions state that points will not be earned in a transaction where Redemption Dollars or store credit has been used. Because the program hasn’t gone live yet, I haven’t been able to test this but my couponing brain is already thinking that there is still a way to make this work. I would recommend redeeming those points to pay for Register Reward items, then use the Register Rewards to pay for the items that will earn you points. There is still a chance that this will not work, but until we try it we won’t know. I encourage everyone to follow the terms and conditions of the new program. I haven’t seen any language in the new program that prevents you from using a Register Reward to purchase something that will earn you points.

What if I return the item to the store? If you return an item that you received points for the points will be deducted from your account.

Will I earn points on prescriptions? You will earn points on some prescriptions that are filled in Georgia and South Carolina. However if your prescription is paid for by any government-funded program (Tricare, Medicaid, Medicare), Walgreens is not allowed by state and federal laws to reward you with points. (This is listed on the Terms and Conditions of the program, see the store or look online at www.walgreens.com/balance for a copy of the Terms and Conditions).

Are there any restrictions for earning points? Yes, points will not be earned if the company determines that the items purchased are for resale or for commercial use. They also reserve the right to limit points awarded and to limit any offer or promotion to reasonable household quantities.

Cashing in

When can I start redeeming my points? You must reach 5,000 points to be eligible for your first reward. It takes between three to five days for your purchases to post to your account.

How do I redeem my points? You just let the cashier know that you wish to use your points to pay for your purchase. Your points will be converted into “Redemption Dollars.”

How are redemption dollars calculated? Points are converted into Redemption Dollars using the following scale:

• 5,000 points = $5

• 10,000 points = $10

• 18,000 points = $20

• 30,000 points = $35

• 40,000 points = $50

What if I return something that I paid for by redeeming points? Once points are redeemed they are automatically deducted from your account and can’t be credited back. You will receive the redemption dollars in the form of a store credit.

What can I use my redemption dollars for? You can redeem your redemption dollars for just about anything in the store except dairy, liquor, tobacco, stamps, phone/pre-paid gift cards, money orders/transfers, transportation passes, charitable donations, prescriptions, pseudoephedrine or ephedrine products, immunizations, health tests or other health care items or services.

Do my points ever expire? Yes, if you do not use your card for six consecutive months your card will be considered inactive and you will lose your points. If you use your card on a regular basis the points expire on a 36-month rolling basis.

Do I have to use my points all at once? You may choose to use your points as you earn them, or you can “bank” them and continue to save them until you reach a larger reward. The choice is yours. Example: Once you reach 5,000 points you will earn a $5 Redemption Dollar that can be used at the register. You can choose to use this $5 or let the cashier know you want to continue to bank your points.

Will there be extra benefits available with the loyalty card? Yes, Walgreens will occasionally offer additional points for AARP members and also have special offers available to members of their Walk with Walgreens program.

May I transfer my points to someone else? No, any attempt to transfer your points will result in your card being deactivated; you will lose all of the points that you have earned.

When I first learned of this program I wasn’t very excited, I thought that the Register Rewards would be going away. Now that I have learned that the Register Rewards aren’t going anywhere, I am excited about a chance to earn even more free products as a loyal Walgreens shopper.

And a quick reminder: Store cashiers have very little to do with the creation and the implementation of this program. Please be patient and kind with our local store employees and managers as they transition to this new loyalty program. With any new program you can expect a few snags until they get the kinks worked out.

Let me know how it goes for you by posting your experiences to Savannah Savvy Shopper on Facebook or email me at Savvyshopper@savannahnow.com.